Blissfield Manufacturing adds 73 jobs in Michigan

By Melissa Burnor

Blissfield Manufacturing will add 73 more jobs over the next three years at its primary facility in the village of Blissfield. The growth gives way to a possibility of adding $1.5 million in new equipment. To help with the expansion, the company qualified for state and local business incentives.

But company officials say the expansion is bitter-sweet. The additional jobs come as both part of planned growth and as a result of a company decision to close Jay Products in Portland, Ind. Production from that plant is currently being transferred to Blissfield.

“As a family-owned business, we sincerely regret having to close our facility in Portland, Ind. Decisions such as this are not made lightly; we value the people who have worked at Jay Products and have given so much,” Blissfield Manufacturing chief executive officer and president Pat Farver said.

Farver said changes in one of their major automotive customer products drove the decision. “Yet the redesign of GM’s power steering system resulting in the obsolescence of Blissfield’s power steering cooler made the decision to consolidate plants the best direction for the company’s future,” he said.

For the complete story, please see the June 26, 2013, edition of The ADVANCE. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc.